Turning Plex Compliance into Your Security Audit Superpower
Sound familiar? Most manufacturers using Plex ERP focus the Compliance System on ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or customer audits. But what if you could use the same system to catch segregation of duties (SoD) violations, Principle of least privilege (PoLP) violations, and Role Based Access Control (RBAC) configuration drift before they become audit findings?
Here's how I discovered the Compliance System's secret superpower—and how you can use it to audit Plex user security.
Tool #1: Compliance System – Your Audit Evidence Engine
Most people use it for: Documenting weld specs and heat treat processes.
What it really does: Creates living, version-controlled security standards with checklists, reviews, and attachments.
Compliance Standard: "Plex Security & RBAC Compliance" ├── Requirement 1: Buyer SoD ├── Checklist: Position and Security Role Association → Buyer → no Inventory roles ├── Evidence: Screenshot + Export attached ├── Reviewers: Finance Controller, Internal Audit └── Status: Approved Q1 2026
Pro move: Enable Document Control, Audit, and Checklist modules first. Then create a "Plex Security Compliance" standard that owns all your SoD and RBAC rules.
Tool #2: Privilege Conflicts – Automatic SoD Enforcement
Updated 2025‑06 – Plex's built‑in separation of duties engine.
How it works: 1. Create Privilege Groups → group conflicting actions/permissions - Group A: Purchasing Manager (add suppliers, change POs) - Group B: AP Clerk (add/pay invoices) 2. Create Privilege Conflict → link Group A + Group B (they can't coexist) 3. Assign roles → Plex blocks users from getting both conflicting roles
Checklist step for your audit:
□ Security Roles Manager → Privilege Conflicts □ Verify Purchasing Manager + AP Clerk are conflicting □ Screenshot showing conflict defined □ Export: Confirm no user has both roles
Real win: No more "manual SoD reviews." Plex enforces it automatically.
Tool #3: Employee Positions – Single vs Enterprise Control
Positions work single‑tenant or enterprise‑wide.
Employee Positions screen lets you: - View/update positions across all companies in your enterprise - Mark positions as "Enterprise Position" (spans multiple tenants) - Track position mapping history (who changed it, when) - Associate roles to enterprise positions
The gotcha: Someone marks "Buyer" as Enterprise Position when it should be single‑tenant. Now Buyers across all companies get the same risky roles.
Your audit checklist:
□ Employee Positions → Buyer → Enterprise Position = No ✓ □ Position mapping history → no unauthorized changes □ Screenshot + export attached
Tool #4: Position and Security Role Associations – Bulk Role Magic
This is where configuration drift lives (and dies).
Position and Security Role Association screen: □ Filter: Enterprise Position = Yes/No/Both □ Select position → Edit □ Check/uncheck roles in "Position Role Associated" column ⚠️ "Update all employees' roles" → bulk‑applies to EVERYONE in position ⚠️ "Overwrite all existing roles" → wipes individual overrides
The danger zone:
Someone clicks Edit → Buyer position → accidentally checks "Inventory Adjustment" → clicks "Update all employees' roles" → 15 users now violate SoD
Your audit checklist catches it:
Checklist: Buyer Position RBAC □ Open Position and Security Role Association □ Buyer position → verify NO Inventory Adjustment role checked □ Companies column → verify tenant count matches expectation 📎 Screenshot + Export attached
Tool #5: Security Roles Manager – Enterprise Sync Master
Multi‑tenant Plex users: this is your secret weapon.
Security Roles Manager → Enterprise Companies action: - Map roles across tenants for automatic sync - Copy role → partner tenant → "Receive Parts‑E" - Change master role → all mapped roles update automatically
The risk: Enterprise role changes propagate conflicting roles to all tenants.
Your audit checklist:
□ Security Roles Manager → Enterprise Companies □ Receive Parts role → verify mapped correctly across tenants □ Orange enterprise roles only on enterprise positions 📎 Export attached
Step‑by‑step: Your first Plex security audit (30 minutes)
1. Create the standard (5 min)
Compliance System → Add Compliance Standard Name: "Plex Security & RBAC Compliance" Requirements: - Buyer SoD via Privilege Conflicts - Enterprise Position validation - Position–Role Association review
2. Build 3 Requirements/checklists (10 min)
Checklist 1: Privilege Conflicts validation Checklist 2: Employee Positions (enterprise vs single) Checklist 3: Position and Security Role Associations
3. Run the audit (10 min)
Buyer position audit: □ Privilege Conflicts → Purchasing + Inventory conflict exists ✓ □ Employee Positions → Buyer = single‑tenant ✓ □ Position Association → no Inventory roles ✓ 📎 3 screenshots + 2 exports attached ✓
4. Review & approve (5 min)
Reviewers: Finance Controller, IT System Audit Team
Status: Approved with evidence attached
Real business case: The Buyer–Inventory disaster avoided
Q1 Audit discovery:
❌ Buyer position had "Inventory Adjustment - Unrestricted" ❌ Privilege Conflict missing (Purchasing + Inventory not conflicting) ❌ Buyer incorrectly marked as Enterprise Position ❌ "Update all employees' roles" clicked → 15 users affected
Fixed in one day:
1. Created Privilege Conflict → Purchasing vs Inventory ✓ 2. Removed Inventory role from Buyer position ✓ 3. Fixed Employee Position → single‑tenant ✓ 4. Re‑ran Position Association ✓ 5. All evidence attached to Compliance audit ✓
Auditor asks for SoD evidence: You hand them the Plex Compliance record. Closed case.
Pro tips
- 🔥 Start small: Audit 3 high‑risk positions first (Buyer, Production Supervisor, Quality Manager)
- 🔥 Privilege Conflicts first: Define your top 5 SoD conflicts before position audits
- 🔥 Enterprise caution: Orange enterprise roles = high audit risk
- 🔥 History is your friend: Review the history reports or revision history to see changes
- 🔥 Quarterly cadence: Like quality audits—same discipline, same Compliance System
Challenge: Run this on your highest‑risk position this week.
What’s your biggest Plex security headache?
